Fire-escape.



s. WHITTEN. FIRE E SCAPE; APPLICATION FILED JULYZS, I917- ATTORNEY Patented June 11, 1918.

SAMUEL B. WHIT'IEN, 0F WILG OX, WASHINGTON.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June ill, 19118.

Application filed. July 25, 1917. Serial No. 182,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l SAMUEL B. WHITTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilcox, in the county of Whitman and State of l/Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fire escapes and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will serve to lower a person from a window of a burn ing building or the like, and which is controlled by the weight of the person.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the device may be adjusted to operate with persons of difierent weights.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the speed of the descent may be regulated by the hands, as well as by the weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character, which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation and one which can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a minmum cost.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line If/17 01": Fig. 1.

In these figures, 1 indicates the reel formed of any suitable material and of the desired size and on this reel is wound the cable 2, having its free end provided with a strap or the like to be secured to a bolt or any other suitable stationary object in a room, in which the device is to be located. The reel is provided with an annular recess 3 formed in the circumferential rim of the pulley and in this recess is seated the spring brake member 4., this brake member having a circular part extending part way around the reel and then having its ends bent downwardly, these ends l extending substantially parallel with each other, as shown in Fig. 1. This member covers the groove 5 in the reel, which receives the cable and said member is provided with a slot 6 ex tending approximately a quarter of the distance around the reel to permit the cable to pass from the reel without interference on the part of said member.

The ends 4 of the member are provided with openings 7, through which passes a strap 8 for limiting the outward movement of said ends. A strap 9 adapted to be placed around the body 01 a person using the device has its ends crossed at 9 and looped through the openings 7 and secured therein. A rod 10 is carried by each of the ends l and these ends have their inner ends formed with hooks 10 and a coil spring 11 is carried by said rods and its ends are engaged by the hooks. Said spring is located between the ends 4 and the tension of the spring is regulated by means of thumb nuts 12 located on the outer ends of the rods and engaging the outer sides of the ends 4:. 13 represents a handle secured to the reel by which the cable may be wound on the reel, after said reel has been used.

l Vhen a person wishes to use the device, he places the strap 9 around his body and lowers himself from the window. His weight will force the ends 4E together, thus causing the member l to act as a brake on the reel so as to retard its rotation and thus check the speed in which the cable is being played out. The spring 11 is of the expansible type and of such strength as to materially supplement the spring action of the brake member or band i to prevent the latter gripping the reel'l in a manner to prevent its turning when a person is supported by the strap 9. By proper manipulation of one or both 01 the thumb nuts 12, the brake band may be adjusted to grip the reel so as to regulate the descent of the person using the device. The depending ends l of the brake band may be grasped, and by pressing them to ether more or less, the brake band 4 may 'e caused to grip the reel with a greater or less pressure, whereby the descent of the person may likewise be controlled.

It is thought from the foregoing that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make slight changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a device of the character specified, a reel, acable Wound on the reel, a spring brake band embracing the reel and inclosing the cable thereon, and having its end portions depending and provided with openings and terminating in eyes, an expansible spring interposed between the depending ends of the brake band, rods passing through the spring and through the openings in the depending ends of the brake band, and having their inner ends engaging the ends of the spring, thumb nuts mounted upon the projecting ends of therods, a strap engaging the eyes of the ends of the brake band to limit the outward movement thereof, and a body strap supported in the said eyes of the depending ends of the brake band.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

SAMUEL B. WHITTEN.

Witnesses:

S. A. KIMBRoUeH, E. B. THOMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

